People live with pets for different reasons. Many of them love the company in their home and treat them like members of the family. Aside from food, water, and shelter, pets also need special care when they get sick.

Signs That Your Pet May Be Sick

As our pets grow older, they develop diseases depending on the kind of breed. Pet owners should be aware of the following symptoms that may need immediate attention.

• Abnormal vocalization (whining or crying)
• Bloating of the abdomen
• Blood in the urine or stool
• A decrease in energy or activity level
• A decrease in or loss of appetite
• Discharge from the eyes or nose
• Excessive scratching or licking of the body
• Foul odor coming from the mouth, ears or skin
• Hiding
• Increased shedding or bald patches
• Limping
• Lumps or tumors
• Reluctance or difficulty in getting up or going up and down stairs
• Seizures
• Straining or inability to urinate or defecate
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Tips on Taking Care of Sick Pets

Getting your pet to the vet may not be enough in ensuring that your pet is safe. For sure, your vet will prescribe medications that your pet needs along with supportive physical care.

These tips should help you take care of your sick pet accordingly:

• Just like in humans, medications for your pet should be given according to how it is prescribed by the vet. Make sure that you follow the correct dosage each time.
• Your sick pets may need to be kept in a quiet environment to prevent them from being overly excited or from being disturbed by family members or other pets.
• It is important to separate your sick pet from your other pets to avoid spreading the disease, especially if it is viral or fungal. The same goes for the food containers that they use.
• If symptoms worsen, never hesitate to call your veterinarian.
• Be sure to let your pet finish all medications prescribed by the vet. Schedule a follow-through check-up to see if there is any progress with the treatment.

Pet Medication

You can purchase pet medicines online just as you would for yourself. Similarly, there are also pharmacies for pets that your local vets can recommend.

However simple it can be to purchase pet medicines online, you should still consult with your vet to ensure that you are addressing the medical condition of your pet rather than making it worse.

The following are some of the most common medications prescribed for dogs and cats:

• Antibiotics
• Antiparasitic
• Chemotherapeutic
• Hormones
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories
• Opioid pain relievers
• Sedatives
• Steroids

Being the pet owner, you may feel that you know your pet so well that giving it immediate relief is your main concern. However, it is always best to consult your doctor to make sure that the right medication is given to your pet.

Here are some important tips when it comes to pet medication:

• Let your vet know if your pet has any allergies or adverse reactions to a specific drug.
• Your vet may recommend pet pharmacies where you can purchase medicine. Make sure that the pharmacy won’t change the dose of the drug without your vet’s knowledge.
• Don’t administer medicines designed for humans to your pets. What would seem to help treat a person by using a specific medication may not be applicable to pets.
• Keep the labels of your pet’s medication intact to avoid it from being consumed by any member of your family. Additionally, never give other pets a prescribed drug that has been previously written for a sick pet.
• Dispose of expired and unused drugs.

Senior Pet Care

You may have noticed that your pet is developing a different behavior after some time. This may be caused by old age. It is likely that medical issues will step up with the aging process.

Most of these conditions can be treated on a long-term basis, while others will involve lifelong treatment.

• Allergies
• Chronic ear infections
• Cushing’s disease (an overproduction of cortisone)
• Diabetes
• Digestive Issues
• Dry eye
• Epilepsy
• Glaucoma
• Heart disease
• Hypothyroidism (an underproduction of thyroid hormone)
• Kidney failure
• Osteoarthritis
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Urinary incontinence (urine leakage)

Here are ways to ensure that you provide the proper care to your senior pet/s:

• If there is a need for medications to treat an existing condition, ask your vet to better understand what your pet is going through, what the medication does, how the medications are supposed to be given, and what to expect when taking those medications.
• Make it a habit to place all medicines in a safe place, out of reach of children, and properly labeled. Dispose of all expired or unused drugs.
• If you experience difficulty in having your aged pet take its medications, ask your vet some tricks that can help you make it easier. That way, your pet can take the medications at the right time.
• Make a system when giving more than one medication so that you won’t skip one drug or give a double dose of another medicine.
• Always be aware of the remaining medications that your pet has. Ask for a refill before the medications run out.
• Prescription drugs for your pets may be purchased online. If you have any doubts, seek advice from your vet.

Pet Meds Online

Every person wants to provide the best care possible to their own pets as much as we can. Realistically, it can cost us thousands of dollars each month.

There are online sites where you can purchase pet medications, and discount pet medications are also sometimes available. The main question is whether buying from online drug stores is safe or not.

While online drug purchases make things convenient to get medication for your sick or senior pets, you need to seriously consider several factors before buying. Here are some potential risks laid out by some vets regarding buying pet medicine online:

• Low-quality product
• No veterinary approval
• Possibility of cross-contamination
• Non-recognized generic medications
• Scams

Compounding Vet Pharmacies

Compounding vet pharmacies have the ability to customize medications for animals. The medications are safe, affordable and are custom-fit to your pet’s medical needs.

Giving your pet the medication that is rightfully needed to treat any medical condition is an assurance that compounding pharmacies like us can provide. Let our Veterinary Compounding Pharmacy work with you and your vet for all your pet’s medication needs.

Get More Info About Our Veterinary Services

Matt Poteet, Pharm.D.

Chief Operating Officer, The Compounding Pharmacy of America

Matthew Poteet, Pharm.D. graduated with Honors from Lee University with a Bachelors of Science in Biological Science. After his undergraduate training, he completed the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Mercer University Southern School of Pharmacy, graduating in 2004. Dr. Poteet has spent much of his pharmacy career on staff at two of the most prestigious academic teaching hospitals in the Southeast; Emory University in Atlanta and Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. At these institutions he received extensive experience and training in sterile products compounding.

He returned home to East Tennessee in 2010, where he has held the position of Pharmacy Director at two sterile products pharmacies in Knoxville. Matthew lives in Knoxville with his wife, Chris. Dr. Poteet is Tennessee’s first Board Certified Anti-Aging Pharmacist by the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.

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